Jennifer Leon is an undergraduate student at the University of Notre Dame, where she is pursuing a degree in Global Affairs and Asian Studies. She is interested in analyzing the effects of immigration and social inequality, as well as raising awareness of human rights issues in North Korea.

Her interest in immigration and social inequality was influenced by her coursework, which involved analyzing the journey that North Koreans make to escape from their country, and their subsequent struggle to find a sense of belonging in their host countries. Additionally, she is keen on exploring how the marginalization of North Korean escapees impacts their sense of belonging  and influences their decisions to seek better integration and support to facilitate their assimilation.

Jennifer is the founder and rising Co-President of Liberty in North Korea at Notre Dame (LiNK ND). LiNK ND is dedicated to raising awareness and support for the activities of LiNK, an international NGO that supports the North Korean people in their journey to seek freedom.

During her internship with HRNK, Jennifer looks forward to developing her research skills and learning how research can contribute to bringing attention to human rights issues in North Korea.

Jangyun Yoo is a master’s student majoring in Public Service and Administration at the Bush School of Texas A&M, focusing on Analytic Methods. He completed his undergraduate studies at Sogang University in South Korea, where he double majored in economics and philosophy.

Jangyun grew up in a North Korean escapee family, having escaped from North Korea with his grandmother at the age of three and resettled in South Korea. This background fostered his interest in the economic development of developing and impoverished nations, leading him to choose economics as his primary major during his undergraduate studies. He later developed an interest in cost-benefit analysis for evaluating projects aimed at economic development in developing countries and impoverished nations, as conducted by NGOs and governments. This motivated him to pursue graduate studies in Public Policy Analysis. At HRNK, he hopes to gain a first-hand understanding of how NGOs operate and carry out their activities.

Sloane Thor is a recent graduate of Wittenberg University, majoring in East Asian Studies with minors in Chinese language and literature, political science, and international studies. During her time there, she completed a senior capstone project on Repression, Punishment, and Genocide: An Examination of Human Rights Violations in North Korea, which is currently being prepared for publication in the Wittenberg East Asian Studies Journal.

Her interest in North Korea stems from her time studying abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea. During her time there, she took a class on North Korean Human Rights, Human Security, the UN System and International Civil Society taught by HRNK Executive Director Greg Scarlatoiu. Taking this class, along with reading North Korean escapee memoirs such as Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West and In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom, motivated her to pursue North Korean human rights violations as her main topic for her senior capstone project.

Through her internship at HRNK, Sloane hopes to gain more background knowledge on the situation in North Korea from a human rights perspective. She also hopes to study more about China and the treatment of escapees there, potentially using her Mandarin Chinese language skills to do so.

Gia Yun is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is pursuing a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Through her studies, she aims to explore the intricate interplay between theory and the economic factors influencing contemporary politics. Her passion for human rights is deeply rooted in her Korean heritage, as she reflects on the stark differences between North and South Korea—two nations that were once united. This personal connection has inspired her to advocate for meaningful solutions to human rights issues, particularly those affecting North Korea.

Gia’s interests were furthered through her coursework in sociology, legal studies, and international relations, with a special focus on international political economy. These studies have spurred her to consider the economic dimensions of political and human rights issues and their impact on the global stage. Through her work, she hopes to contribute to a deeper understanding and advocacy for human rights, finding ways to translate her theoretical knowledge into practical action.

Through her internship with HRNK, she hopes to gain a deeper and more first-hand understanding of North Korean human rights issues, as well as further her commitment to advocate for global justice and human dignity.

SoEun Park is an undergraduate student at Harvard University concentrating in Government and Sociology. As someone born in South Korea and has lived in three countries––South Korea, Brazil, and the United States––she has always been interested in international relations and how foreign policies play out across and within different cultures and contexts. Introduced to the topic of Korean reunification in elementary school in Korea, her interest in North Korea issues deepened after hearing directly from a North Korean escapee about their experiences at a study group session during her first year of college.

As a result of taking international relations and human rights courses in college and beyond, especially one on international relations and peace-building in the Korean Peninsula at the Seoul National University International Summer Program, her commitment to delve deeper into practical applications of advocacy that create change in the realm of human rights solidified. She firmly believes that inhumane treatment and severe repression faced by North Koreans serve as stark reminders of the vital importance of basic human rights. Learning more about the experiences of egregious human rights abuses that are ubiquitous in North Korea has fueled her passion for advocating for human rights not only in North Korea, but globally.

Her interest in human rights, particularly in North Korea, is also deeply intertwined with her personal experiences as an immigrant. As a first generation immigrant, she faced various challenges common to immigrants, such as microaggressions and discrimination, language barriers, difficulties obtaining a green card, and conflicts with cultural identity. These experiences fueled her aspirations to help other immigrants overcome similar barriers. As an aspiring lawyer, she aims to support the most vulnerable, whether they are people who are at risk of deportation or those who are victims of gross human rights violations by an oppressive regime. She recognizes that individuals with firsthand or similar experiences are often best equipped to serve and uplift their communities and aims to support these communities through the practical avenue of law. Through her internship with HRNK, she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of North Korean human rights issues as well as contribute to meaningful advocacy and tangible solutions to the situation.

Alena Nosel is a third-year student at American University majoring in Asia, Pacific, and Diaspora Studies (APDS) and minoring in Korean language. As a Research Intern at HRNK, she looks forward to helping increase worldwide consciousness of North Korean human rights violations and learning the ins and outs of non-governmental organizations.

Her interest in North Korean human rights issues stems from her identity as a third-generation Cuban American, recognizing the significant overlap between their respective operations of authoritarian regimes. At American University, she has advanced her knowledge of North Korea through taking courses like "K-Pop in North Korea" and "Visual Culture in Korea," writing documentary analyses, and attending escapee testimonies. She is excited to attend Yonsei University in Fall 2024 to continue her APDS studies and expand her appreciation of Korea's global influence as its cultural and innovative exports shape modern society.

After finishing her education, Alena hopes to work under UNESCO, where she hopes to promote diverse cultural representation on the World Heritage List by contributing unsung perspectives.

Faith Osinloye is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Global Affairs at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, where she aims to deepen her knowledge in international relations, diplomacy, and human rights. With a background in Global Studies and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to human rights, social justice, and cross-cultural communication. Her academic and professional journey includes leveraging social media and communication skills to amplify the voices of marginalized groups.

As a research intern at HRNK, Faith is eager to evaluate the effectiveness of human rights interventions and advocacy strategies relating to North Korea. She also hopes to better understand the methodologies used in human rights research and reporting to effectively highlight the issues facing the Korean Peninsula. Through this work, Faith aims to contribute to HRNK’s mission of promoting human rights and fostering positive change.

Maria Fernanda de Almeida is pursuing her Master of Global Affairs at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto. Her academic journey reflects a profound dedication to advancing global development and human rights causes. Since completing a Bachelor of Arts (High Honors) in History and Political Science from the University of Toronto, she has contributed significantly to research and academic publications, mainly focusing on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Asia issues. Her commitment to research excellence was acknowledged with the 2021 UofT Excellence Award for Continuing Opportunities in Research Experience.

Professionally, Maria has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills in digital engagement and strategic communication. As a previous Research and Partnerships Assistant at the Munk School and the Ontario Institute for Educational Studies, she conducted and collaborated on extensive research and facilitated funding opportunities. Additionally, Maria's leadership skills and advocacy interest were evident as Secretary & Events Manager at Internationali Negotia, where she coordinated Model United Nations (MUN) training and managed national and international events for MUN conferences.

As a research intern at HRNK, Maria is eager to delve into the dynamics of human rights in North Korea and explore its ramifications on the global landscape. With her experience in digital platforms and unwavering passion for advocacy, she aims to amplify the organization's efforts in promoting human rights and fostering positive change on a global scale.

Gary Tetreault is a first-year Master of Global Affairs student at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Previously, he completed a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in International Relations and Asian Studies with a minor in Japanese studies. He was also an assistant language teacher in the JET Programme based in Tottori, Japan.

During his internship at HRNK, Gary aims to deepen his knowledge of contemporary issues in North Korea. He intends to apply his primary focus on Asian security and global policy to the challenges in North Korea. Gary seeks to gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of U.S. policy towards North Korea and to explore the security implications of human rights violations on the Korean Peninsula.

Ray Matsumoto is a master's student of history at Washington State University specializing in modern Japanese history, East Asian foreign policy, and the politics of war memory. He previously completed his bachelor's degree at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, majoring in Philosophy and the History of Science and Mathematics. 

Ray's interest in North Korea stems from his discovery that his grandfather was a Zainichi Korean (Korean in Japan). As a Japanese national born and raised in Japan who attended international schools, Ray had a strong interest in international relations and global history from early on. However, this discovery inspired him to explore modern Japan and Korean history, and pursue a research fellowship at Pacific Atrocities Education (PAE), a non-profit organization that advocates for victims of atrocities in the Asia-Pacific region. At PAE, he published a book on the history and contemporary significance of Imperial Japanese propaganda. 

Through the internship at HRNK, Ray hopes to expand his understanding of contemporary human rights issues in North Korea and gain experience working in the foreign policy sector. In addition, he plans to transfer this experience to his scholarly work on Zainichi Koreans and their relationship to North Korea during the postwar era. 

Jongjin Lee is a master’s student studying international relations at Syracuse University. He graduated from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China with a BA in English. He is interested in international security studies, especially East Asian regional security, and U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral security cooperation.

While living in China, he became intrigued by China’s role regarding North Korea when he observed that many North Korean laborers were working there, despite UN sanctions. During his master’s program, he learned about North Korea’s Lazarus Group, cyberattacks, and China’s provision of infrastructure such as hotels to North Korean hacker units, which further increased his interest in this field. Through this internship, he hopes to gain specialized knowledge and skills in international security and North Korean human rights.

Ada Trybuchowska is a Master of Global Affairs student at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy (University of Toronto). She is particularly interested in digital advocacy, human rights, and security issues. She graduated from King's College London with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, where her dissertation focused on women's rights and the abortion ban in Poland. She also earned the Associateship of King’s College.

Professionally, Ada has dedicated herself to roles that enhance digital engagement and strategic communication. As a Social Media Associate and now Co-Editor-in-Chief at Global Conversations, she is committed to addressing global issues and contributing to meaningful change through informed dialogue and advocacy. Additionally, she has engaged in volunteer work supporting Ukrainian refugees and soldiers, and served as a delegate for UN Women UK, participating in discussions on technological innovation and education.

Ada's main interests include the convergence of technology, education, and human rights, and the broader implications of international policies on human rights practices. At HRNK, Ada hopes to deepen her understanding of human rights dynamics in North Korea and utilize her digital skills to amplify the organization’s advocacy efforts.

Andrew Chan is a first-year Master of Global Affairs student at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Toronto Mississauga in June 2023 as an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction, with a specialist degree in political science and history.

As a research intern at HRNK, Andrew hopes to learn more about the role of NGOs and research organizations in tackling pressing global issues, such as human rights in isolated authoritarian states like North Korea. He is passionate about human rights issues and global security, and is very interested in the foreign affairs and international diplomacy, which intersect with these topics. The unique and isolated situation of North Korea is something that Andrew strongly believes merits more understanding, and he wants to further explore the area of human rights in North Korea during his internship.

Wu Yang is a first-year graduate student at the University of Toronto where he is completing a Master of Global Affairs degree, along with a Collaborative Master's Specialisation in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies. He previously completed a Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in Political Science and International Relations and minoring in History.

Wu's interest in North Korea initially stemmed from curiosity about the country's extreme isolation, and this interest eventually became intertwined with others in foreign affairs and political thought. Visits to South Korea on diplomatic missions gave him a glimpse into how North Korea's presence continues to loom large in the region despite its isolation, and he is also keenly passionate about the role of ideologies in political communities and their relationship with human rights, believing that ideological developments play an important part in justifying repression. Having prior research experience on China, Wu hopes to learn more about China's relationship with North Korea and its role in North Korean human rights issues.

Valerie Johnson is a first-year master’s student at Lund University in Sweden, seeking a degree in Human Rights Studies. She particularly focuses on human rights access, international development policy, and good governance. Her interest in the East Asian region was sparked by teaching English in South Korea for nearly three years. This experience offered her a firsthand understanding of the complexities of inter-Korean relations and motivated her to pursue graduate studies in human rights.

In her academic work, Valerie explores issues affecting marginalized communities, with a particular interest in the rights and conditions of sexual minorities, incarcerated youth, and disabled individuals in North Korea. This research interest will likely shape her master’s thesis in the following academic year. Valerie’s internship at HRNK marks a strategic step toward immersing herself in the critical study of human rights issues in North Korea, with the aim of contributing to research that aims to enhance access to human rights. She is committed to advocating for strategies and interventions that address the urgent human rights challenges facing marginalized communities in East Asia and beyond.

In the long term, as a researcher and advocate, Valerie aspires to amplify the voices and stories of the North Korean people, fostering a deeper global understanding and humanizing the narrative surrounding their lives.

Samantha Garcia is a first-year Master's student at Ewha Women's University, specializing in Developmental Cooperation with a keen interest in international law and gender studies. Her interest in East Asia began during her undergraduate years at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she earned her bachelor's degree in International Criminal Justice. Throughout that period, she concentrated on North Korea and the prevalent human rights issues in the region. This focus prompted her to intern with various U.S.-ROK NGOs, providing her with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in the field.

Motivated by these experiences, Samantha enthusiastically applied for and was accepted to the Global Korean Scholarship. Her dedication is reflected in her desire to continue her undergraduate passion, focusing on the human rights crisis faced by North Korean women in the prison systems as the central theme for her master's thesis. As a Research Intern at HRNK, she aims to further expand her knowledge and contribute to the strengthening of U.S.-ROK relations.

Katherine Mitchell is a third-year University College London (UCL) student seeking a degree in History and Politics, and she is currently undertaking her exchange year at Cornell University. Katherine traces her interest in North Korea to a formative trip to South Korea. What she saw and experienced looking out at the DMZ kindled a passion for human rights advocacy in relation to the treatment of North Koreans.

At UCL, Katherine’s interest in political advocacy led her to the United Nations Society and Amnesty UK. During her time at Cornell, she has undertaken steps to further her interests, including taking classes that concern human rights law and Korean history. In her final year at UCL, Katherine intends to pursue a dissertation that studies how U.S. actions toward North Korea can better focus on the human rights of North Korean citizens. To this end, she has sought out an internship with HRNK in parallel with the second semester of her year abroad at Cornell.

Ryan Rohrbach is a third-year student at the University at Buffalo, pursuing degrees in Political Science and International Studies with an East Asia concentration. Ryan’s interest in studying East Asian politics comes from the lack of exposure he had to international politics, specifically in Asia, as a kid growing up in a small farm town. Along with intensive Korean-language study through the Department of State Critical Language Scholarship program, he took classes on foreign policy analysis, international relations in East Asia, and authoritarian regimes at Korea University in Seoul.

While studying abroad in Seoul, he spent three days with North Korean escapees during a program organized by South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense. Reflecting on this program showed him the importance of addressing the North Korean state, the North Korean people, and North Korean escapees institutionally and societally in a productive manner. He believes that organizations such as the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea are invaluable in achieving this goal. Ryan is looking forward to pursuing his interests in security studies, East Asian international relations, U.S.-Korea relations, and development and human rights in North Korea at HRNK and in a future graduate school program.

Annie Heitmeier is an honor student and senior at Michigan State University, majoring in international relations with a double minor in Korean language and Asian studies. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master's degree in security studies.

Annie studied abroad at Yonsei University in her junior year, taking graduate-level courses in humanitarian law and human rights. While abroad, she also worked as an advocacy intern at Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights. As an advocacy intern, she did extensive research on enforced disappearances committed by the DPRK and worked directly with families of the forcibly disappeared to raise awareness about their cases. This internship made her passionate about a career in North Korea policy and made her decide to apply as a research intern at HRNK.

Her main interests are in the realms of human security, nuclear proliferation, and regional conflict and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula. In her role as a research intern at HRNK, she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding U.S. foreign policy toward North Korea while honing and enhancing her analytical research skills.

Jiwoo (Katie) Choi is a junior at Jericho Senior High School. As a Korean citizen who is deeply invested in North Korean human rights, she wants to support North Korean escapees and help raise awareness of the seriousness of the human rights situation through her internship at HRNK.

She first came across North Korean issues through YouTube videos that discussed the everyday life of the North Korean people. Her interest in North Korea deepened after she attended a seminar at Columbia Law School, hosted by the Permanent Mission of the ROK to the UN, on the topic of North Korea’s nuclear program and human rights abuses. Inspired by this seminar, she wrote an essay that compared the corruption levels of North and South Korea and argued that the abject poverty that North Koreans face gives rise to a vicious cycle of deprivation, corruption, and repression.

She hopes to learn more about various aspects of the situation in North Korea, including poverty, corruption, humanitarian aid, and the freedom of expression. This will inform her personal efforts in her community to help improve the human rights situation in North Korea.

Gloria Guo is a senior studying International Relations and Law & Public Policy at the University of Southern California (USC). She is passionate about human rights, U.S.-Asia relations, and international law. Gloria first learned about North Korea when she traveled to Yanji at the age of 13, where she met a perceivable number of North Koreans working at local restaurants. She grew more passionate about North Korean human rights issues when she joined Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) at USC. During her undergraduate studies, Gloria has taken several classes on international security, U.S.-Korea relations, and human rights law. As a Research Intern, Gloria hopes to further her understanding of North Korean human rights issues and bring her unique insight and skills to HRNK.

Rachel Baek is a junior at Leigh High School. During a 2018 trip to the Odusan Unification Tower, she caught a glimpse of North Korea for the first time through a telescope and became curious about the conditions there. Since then, she has researched inter-Korean relations and the North Korean diaspora with the goal of understanding human rights issues. She is excited to build on her interests through this internship.

Tessa Aguilar is a fourth-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she is majoring in Political Science with minors in Global Studies and East Asian Studies.

Since high school, Tessa has been passionate about East Asian Studies, particularly Korean culture and diplomacy. This past summer, she studied abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea, which left an unforgettable impact on her studies. Her driving factor in becoming further involved with HRNK was hearing a North Korean defector speak during a class session. Tessa is also writing her senior thesis on various levels of cooperation within international relations theory and governance, using South Korea and Japan as a case study.

Learning more about the humanitarian dilemma in North Korea will help Tessa further explore the intersection between Korean politics and methodological theory. As a Research Intern at HRNK, Tessa hopes to gain direct exposure to human rights issues in North Korea as well as how the North Korean government influences the international environment. She aims to return to South Korea in the future to continue her postgraduate studies and pursue international law.

Kate Refolo is a recent graduate from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Interdisciplinary Studies: Cultural Studies and a minor in Philosophy. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Cultural Studies Medallion of Academic Excellence during her senior year. She became interested in North Korean Human Rights and North-South Korea relations many years ago after watching a documentary about North Korean defectors’ escape experiences.

During her junior year at Villanova University, Kate studied abroad at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. At her study abroad orientation, she had the opportunity to listen to a North Korean defector’s escape story. This experience sparked her interest in the integration of North Korean refugees into South Korean society, and she decided to pursue this topic as her senior capstone thesis project. This project has inspired her to continue researching and advocating for North Korean human rights.

In January 2023, Kate will be returning to South Korea to teach English through the Fulbright program. While in South Korea, she hopes to have the opportunity to volunteer with and tutor North Korean defectors.

Valerie Xu is a rising second-year graduate student at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations with a concentration in States, Markets, and Institutions in Asia. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2021, with a double major in International Studies and East Asian Studies, both with honors, as well as a minor in Psychology. She became interested in the Korean Peninsula after taking courses such as “History and Culture of North Korea,” “Korea in the World,” “Korean War,” and “North Korea, Identity, and International Politics.” Through her undergraduate senior honor thesis, “Finding Space for Xingshaoshu (LGB) College Students in China,” she gained a deeper understanding of how advocacy and activism could be strategically conducted in a hostile environment under an authoritarian regime. Her research project was recognized as the co-winner of the 2021 Robert Tucker Prize for Best Thesis in International Studies. As a research intern at HRNK, she hopes to further her knowledge of the Korean Peninsula and broaden her perspectives on human rights issues. She aims to pursue a dual degree program in South Korea and aspires to apply her skills and experience in the fields of diplomacy and public affairs.

Bryan Clark completed his master's in International and Security Politics at the European School of Political and Social Sciences (ESPOL) at Lille Catholic University. He previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in Government – International Relations at California State University, Sacramento.

He first became interested in Korean Peninsula issues during his undergraduate program, where he studied about the governments of South and North Korea. He worked for two years as an English teacher in South Korea. From this experience, he developed a deeper interest in Korean Peninsula issues. He is interested in security, refugee, and human rights issues, particularly in relation to North Korea.

His goal is to work in human rights and diplomacy. He looks forward to being able to further improve his knowledge of human rights and refugee issues regarding North Korea. He is excited about being able to participate in HRNK’s efforts to bring further attention to the human rights violations committed by the North Korean government.

Jiwoo Hwang is a rising sophomore in Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to different countries, including due to her father’s job as a diplomat. After meeting a teenage defector at a seminar hosted by her family friends, her interest in North Korea grew. As an intern of HRNK, Jiwoo hopes that she can learn more about the current situation in North Korea and more about the detailed history of the Kim’s reign. She also looks forward to reaching out to the ones suffering in North Korea.